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Gauravam album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Palootti Valartha Kili

From Gauravam · 1973

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Gauravam
Movie release year
1973
Lyrics added on
4 May 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
{ Palooti valartha kili
Pazhankoduthu paartha kili } (2)
{ Naan valartha pachai kili
Naalai varum katcheriku } (2)
{ Chellama
Endhan chellama } (2)
{ Sattamum
Naan uraithen
Thairiyamum naan kuduthen } (2)
{ Pattam
Matum vaangi vandhu
Paaindhu sella paarkudhadi } (2)
Chellama
Endhan chellama
Palooti valartha kili
Pazhankoduthu paartha kili
Naan valartha pachai kili
Naalai varum katcheriku
Chellama
Endhan chellama
{ Needhikae
Thunindhu nindren
Ninaithadhellam jeithu vandhen } (2)
{ Vedhanaiku
Oru maganai
Veetinilae valarthu vandhen } (2)
{ Chellama
Endhan chellama } (2)
Palooti valartha kili
Pazhankoduthu paartha kili
Naan valartha pachai kili
Naalai varum katcheriku
Chellama
Endhan chellama
{ Aandavan
Sodhanaiyo yaar
Kodutha bodhanaiyo } (2)
{ Theeyilae
Irangi vittan thirumba
Vandhu thaal panivan } (2)
Sathiyam
Idhu sathiyam
Chellama
Endhan chellama
Palooti valartha kili
Pazhankoduthu paartha kili
Naan valartha pachai kili
Naalai varum katcheriku
{ Chellama
Endhan chellama } (2)
The parrot I nurtured and raised with milk,
The parrot I lovingly fed with sweet fruit,
The little green parrot I brought up
Is coming to the courtroom tomorrow!
Chellama,
Oh, my dear Chellama!
The nuances of the law,
I taught him myself,
And courage too, I gave him.
Having merely earned
A degree in law,
Look how it tries to fly and strike back at me!
Chellama,
Oh, my dear Chellama!
The parrot I nurtured and raised with milk,
The parrot I lovingly fed with sweet fruit,
The little green parrot I brought up
Is coming to the courtroom tomorrow!
Chellama,
Oh, my dear Chellama!
Standing firm for justice,
I fought without fear,
Winning every single case I took up.
Only to bring myself heartbreak,
A son like him
Have I raised inside my own home.
Chellama,
Oh, my dear Chellama!
The parrot I nurtured and raised with milk,
The parrot I lovingly fed with sweet fruit,
The little green parrot I brought up
Is coming to the courtroom tomorrow!
Chellama,
Oh, my dear Chellama!
Is this an ordeal
Sent by God, or whose
Misleading counsel could it be?
Into the blazing fire
He has stepped, but he will return
And bow down at my feet!
It is a promise,
This is my solemn vow!
Chellama,
Oh, my dear Chellama!
The parrot I nurtured and raised with milk,
The parrot I lovingly fed with sweet fruit,
The little green parrot I brought up
Is coming to the courtroom tomorrow!
Chellama,
Oh, my dear Chellama!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Palooti Valartha Kili is a legendary track from the 1973 Tamil courtroom drama Gauravam. In this song, the proud and formidable lawyer Barrister Rajanikanth laments the defiance of his nephew and protégé, whom he raised with deep affection and trained in the legal profession. Comparing the young lawyer to a cherished parrot raised on milk and fruit, he expresses heartbreak that the boy now dares to face him in court as an opponent. Despite his pain, Rajanikanth's ego and confidence in his legal dominance remain unbroken. He wonders whether his nephew's betrayal is a divine test or the result of malicious influence, yet remains convinced that the young challenger will fail in his trial by fire and ultimately return to bow before him in respect.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uruvagam (Metaphor)

“Palooti valartha kili / Pazhankoduthu paartha kili”

The protagonist uses the metaphor of a lovingly nurtured parrot ('Pachai kili') to represent his nephew and student whom he raised and educated in law.

Moonaai (Initial Alliteration)

“Palooti valartha kili / Pazhankoduthu paartha kili”

Repetition of the initial consonant sound 'Pa' across consecutive words ('Palooti' and 'Pazhankoduthu').

Edhukai (Second Letter Rhyme)

“Sattamum / Pattam”

Rhyming of the second consonant sound 'tta' (ட்) in 'Sattamum' and 'Pattam'.

Vinaa (Rhetorical Question)

“Aandavan Sodhanaiyo yaar Kodutha bodhanaiyo”

The speaker questions whether his current situation is a divine test or bad advice fed to his nephew by enemies.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is set in the context of the iconic courtroom drama Gauravam (1973), where Chevalier Sivaji Ganesan played a dynamic dual role as the veteran lawyer Barrister Rajanikanth and his righteous nephew Kannan. Composed by M. S. Viswanathan and sung by T. M. Soundararajan, Kannadasan's lyrics famously use the colloquial word 'Katcheriku'—which classically referred to a musical performance—to denote a court session or legal showdown.

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